Upper Materials: Natural

Leather
Made from the highest quality, top-grain cowhide. The smooth finish is durable and easy to clean. Clean and condition with Leather
Balm. If you need to touch up the scuffs, use shoe cream in a matching
color.

Embossed Leather
Same as Smooth Leather above except that a special pattern or texture has been pressed into the surface. Clean and condition with Leather
Balm. If you need to touch up the scuffs, use shoe cream in a matching
color.

Oiled Leather
Compared to Smooth leather, Oiled leather has a softer feel and is a bit less shiny. It has a durable and moisture-resistant surface. For care, spray with Meltonian Water & Stain Protector. You can either use polish to enhance shine or beeswax conditioners to stay with a more satin look.

Waxy Leather
Top-grain cowhide, buffed and coated with a waxy finish. Spray with Meltonian Water & Stain Protector when new to help protect it from the elements.
You can either use polish to enhance shine or beeswax conditioners to stay with a more satin look then spray again with protector.

Nappa Leather
A pliable smooth leather with a soft finish. Clean and preserve with Leather
Balm and treat scuffs with polish and a buffing brush.

Metallic Leather
Leather with a shiny or matte metallic finish to the top. Clean with Leather
Balm.

Patent Leather
The surface of this full grain leather is finished to a high gloss. Clean the same way as you would eyeglasses with plastic lenses - wipe with a dampened soft cloth.

Wool/Oiled Leather
Naturally insulating wool is warm, soft and breathes to keep your feet comfortable. Oiled leather is long-lasting and looks good over the long haul. Spray wool with Meltonian Water & Stain Protector. Clean oiled leather with Leather
Balm and a horsehair brush. Spot color with Pedag Cream.

Birkibuc
Synthetic alternative from Birkenstock to nubuck. Slightly porous, textured vinyl with a matte finish and compressed
felt backing. Water-resistant. No break-in required. Doesn’t stretch or fade.
Clean with a wet washcloth. Leather
Balm can be used to hide scuffs.

Birko-Felt
A durable, breathable, synthetic from Birkenstock. Spray with fabric protector like Scotchguard® when new. (Meltonian Water & Stain Protector doesn’t work because the fabric
absorbs it.) Brush lightly with plastic bristle Nubuck
Brush to clean. Use a sweater shaver if the felt pills.

Cork
Birkenstock uses premium quality cork—a natural, renewable substance—to provide the orthopedic contours feet need for maximum comfort. Cork is lightweight, resilient, and shock-absorbent. Your new footwear comes with a sealant already applied to the cork. When the cork looks dry or has a dull finish (usually between one and three months), use Cork
Sealer to maintain the protection.
Interesting facts about Birkenstock cork: Cork comes from the bark of cork
oak trees that grow in Spain and Portugal. Workers peel cork by hand in a process
that is harmless to the trees. After seven years of new growth, each tree is
ready for harvest again. The cork used in Birkenstock shoes is a by-product
of the bottling industry. After harvest, the cork bark is cut into bottle stoppers,
and we grind up the remaining scraps to make the Original Contoured Footbed®.

Latex
A natural polymer. Latex is mixed with cork to give the footbed more elasticity and flexibility, and to keep it from cracking.

Jute
A natural, thick fiber, obtained from the jute plant, which increases the flexibility and durability of the footbed.

PPT
A highly durable open cell urethane that can be applied by our repair folks between the leather and jute to add cushion and shock absorption to the footbed. Does not compress. Good for plantar fasciitis/heel pain. (PPT is a registered trademark of Langer Biomechanics Group, Inc.)

EVA
Ethyl vinyl acetate, a non-toxic synthetic compound. Creates a flexible, somewhat
cushioned sole that is able to absorb pressure as you walk. Waterproof and resistant to heat, acid, oil, and grease. Abrasion and tear-resistant. Compresses over time. Can shrink in heat over 170º Fahrenheit.

Birko-cell Foam
(Also called ‘spacers.’) Medium-density EVA. Often used under the footbed,
on top of the sole, to tighten up the fit. It reduces the volume inside the
shoe and adds cushion. Compresses over time.

Microfiber
Very soft, synthetic liner woven from micro-fine filaments used on the surface of some insoles. Moisture absorbent, breathable, and washable.

Cork/Latex
The standard material for Birkenstock Sandal and Shoe footbeds. Natural cork held in a tough, flexible matrix by Latex (a natural polymer). Firm and resilient support. Lightweight and shock absorbing. Conforms to the contours of your foot over time.

Cork/EVA
Also called BirkoCork. The standard material for Birkenstock Arch Supports and footbeds for children's footwear. Natural cork held in a tough, flexible matrix by EVA (ethyl-vinyl acetate). Lightweight and shock absorbing. Thermopliable at 250 degrees F.

Polyurethane foam
Dense, closed-cell foam. Unaffected by water, maintenance-free and no perceptible compression over time. Somewhat softer than the Birkenstock Cork/Latex footbed and does not conform to the shape of your foot.

Memory Foam
Memory Foam is a heat sensitive, visco-elastic polyurethane foam. At room temperature memory foam is harder than at skin temperature, which causes it to soften on contact and mould itself to the shape of a warm body within a few minutes. The foam also holds its shape temporarily - a hand pressed into memory foam will leave a clear impression when removed.